CN1146373C - Absorbent article with extensible and articulating portions - Google Patents

Abstract

Absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, panty liners, and incontinence pads are disclosed that have a main body portion with extensible regions therein. In one embodiment, the absorbent article is a sanitary napkin that has portions that are able to move relative to each other and articulate about flexible and extensible portions so that the product has an overall extensibility.

Description

Contain the absorbent device extending and section that can turn to

Technical field

The present invention relates to absorbent device such as sanitary towel, short underpants lining, incontinent person's liner one class.The present invention relates more specifically to its some section can be with respect to flexible and tensile section absorbent device that moves and turn to (articulate).

Background technology

Absorbent device such as sanitary towel, short underpants lining, incontinent person's liner one class is the articles for use in the crotch area in a kind of being typically worn in.This articles for use are designed to be used for to absorb and store liquid that human body produces and other ejection to prevent that human body and medicated clothing from being made dirty.Sanitary towel a kind ofly is worn within the underwear by the womankind, usually such absorbent device of contiguous human body perineal region between wearer's two lower limbs.

Existing many dissimilar this absorbent devices are that the present technique field is known and describe.Respectively at August 21 nineteen ninety with invested on April 23rd, 1991 in the United States Patent (USP) 4,950,264 and 5,009,653 of Osborn and described several examples of obtaining the sanitary towel of business success.Yet the exploration of doing for the improvement absorbent device is also continuing.For example, attempt making sanitary towel more fit consistent recently with wearer's health in effort.Also making great efforts to make sanitary towel to have extensibility for this purpose and for improving comfortableness in addition.

Narrated a kind of sanitary towel's achievement consistent that make on July 9th, 1992 for 92/10984 li with the PCT application number WO that people's such as Osborn nominal disclosed name is called " Sanitary NapkinHaving Transversely Segmented Core " (sanitary towel with core of transversal sectional) with wearer's body fit.Narrate another on July 6th, 1994 nominal disclosed EPO number of patent application 0,605 017 A2 with Tong-ho J.Hsieh and contained the example of similar content.Some examples extending and stretchable sanitary towel have been narrated on February 4th, 1993 for 93/01785 li with the PCT number of patent application WO that people's such as Osborn nominal disclosed name is called " Stretchable Absorbent Articles " (stretchable absorbent device).

But can believe that extensive, high-speed production extending fully or stretchable absorbent device as the menstruation product may be quite difficult and expensive.Difficulty and expensive reason are to make the tensile absorbent device of integral body will adopt more expensive extensible materials to make the parts of absorbent device; Because material is stretchable, therefore material usually can mutual different size when assembling on high-speed production lines in addition.

Therefore, the such absorbent device of sanitary towel is necessary a kind of structure of improvement is provided so that its health with the wearer fits tightly and more cheap than complete tensile sanitary towel, be easier to make.For a sanitary towel, especially being necessary can be easily, assemble on high-speed production lines at an easy rate, and the extending amount of sanitary towel should be enough to make it more comfortable.

Therefore, one object of the present invention is for providing a kind of sanitary towel such absorbent device, and this absorbent device has the structure of improvement and tight with wearer's body fit.

Another object of the present invention is for providing a kind of sanitary towel such absorbent device, and the extending amount of this absorbent device is enough to improve the performance and the comfortableness of sanitary towel.

Another purpose of the present invention is for providing a kind of sanitary towel such absorbent device, this absorbent device not only achieved the above object but also can be easily than complete tensile sanitary towel, on high-speed production lines, produce at an easy rate.

By following narration also in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, these purposes of the present invention and other purpose will be tangible.

Summary of the invention

The invention provides a kind of absorbent device such as sanitary towel, short underpants lining, incontinent person's liner (Moisture-absorptive lining pad) class, some of this absorbent device section can and turn to around other flexibility, extending section motion.

Absorbent device preferably includes a top flat of liquid thoroughly, a liquid-tight egative film that links to each other with top flat and the absorbent article core between egative film and top flat.Absorbent device comprises at least one section or district's (but expanding section), and this section is than the easier expansion in other zone of absorbent device.But the expanding section of absorbent device can comprise top flat, egative film or the two one section or district.Preferably, but the top flat of absorbent device, egative film, absorbent article core and any other parts partly are tensile at the expanding section of absorbent device, but so the expanding section of absorbent device on its whole thickness, can extend.But the expanding section of absorbent device can be arranged on any suitable place on the absorbent device, such as one section along the absorbent device periphery.But the extending direction of expanding section can be longitudinally, horizontal, certain direction between the vertical and horizontal, or more than one direction.If but absorbent device includes the expanding section more than, but each expanding section can all can expanded on the same direction or on different directions.

In one embodiment, absorbent device includes at least one first section and one second section, separated by a tensile interlude of flexibility for two sections, interlude links up first section and second section as a junction point and can move relative to each other, and this adjusts with regard to each section that allows absorbent device and more fits with wearer's body shape.In the preferred variant of this embodiment, absorbent device is a sanitary towel, this sanitary towel has one first section, one second section and one the 3rd section, one first flexible extending interlude is arranged between first section and second section, one second flexible extending interlude is arranged between second section and the 3rd section.Described interlude comprises the tensile joint of expanding of a flexibility between described first section and second section, the wherein said joint of expanding limits one and laterally extends to another longitudinal edge and cross over the zone of described absorbent device from a longitudinal edge, and the wherein said joint of expanding is than the easier elongation of some part at least in the described absorbent device remainder.In a preferred embodiment, described absorbent device limits a plane, and described tensile expansion joint in described absorbent device plane vertically on generally be tensile.In a further preferred embodiment, be formed with a grid that has two obvious zoness of different at least described at least the expansion on a described top flat on the joint and at least one the part in the described egative film, so that described at least one the described part in described top flat and the egative film presents elastic-like behaviour along at least one predetermined axial line in the described zone of expanding joint.

This sanitary towel preferably has extending and stretchable hygroscopic part structure (being regracting).This sanitary towel also preferably has overall extensibility and tensility.

Present specification has also been described many alternatives with characteristic of the present invention.For example but the extending amount of each section of all of expansion area needn't be equally big or small.In addition, the overall extensibility scope that different embodiment had described here can comprise that the sanitary towel that can buy from the market now (concerning those embodiment, though but to have the expansion area be not that overall extensibility is arranged for it) is to complete tensile sanitary towel.

Description of drawings

Although specifically note in claims and clear proposition about constituting the requirement of theme of the present invention, will better understanding be arranged to the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the narration below the phase believer in a certain religion, in the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows top view plane sketch for the partial cutaway of sanitary towel of the present invention, and three of sanitary towel can not be connected with the tensile interlude of pair of flexible by extension relatively.

Fig. 2 is the side view of sanitary towel shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is the top plan view of sanitary towel shown in Figure 1, is extended configuration shown in the figure.

Fig. 4 is the side view of sanitary towel shown in Figure 1, is a possible configuration that turns to shown in the figure.

Fig. 5 is the top plan view of an alternative of sanitary towel shown in Figure 1, and this embodiment is additionally provided with flexible horizontal tensile section at each end of sanitary towel.

Fig. 6 is the top plan view of sanitary towel shown in Figure 5 when extended configuration.

Fig. 7 one has the top plan view of the net sheet material of deformable mesh, and this material is used for the flexible extending interlude of sanitary towel shown in the construction drawing 1～6.

Fig. 7 A～C is the part enlarged perspective of net sheet material shown in Figure 7, and wherein the net sheet material moves to big extended state gradually from unstretched state.

Fig. 8 is a schematic side cutaway view according to sanitary towel of the present invention, and this sanitary towel has a sectional absorbent article core.

Fig. 9 is the schematic side cutaway view of sanitary towel shown in Figure 8 when extended configuration.

Figure 10 one has the schematic side pseudosection of the sanitary towel of alternative construction, wherein is provided with an interlayer to reduce the phase mutual interference of these parts when making relative motion between absorbed layer and core section.

Figure 11 is the schematic side cutaway view of sanitary towel shown in Figure 10 when extended configuration.

Figure 12 one has the hygroscopic part of sanitary towel of alternative hygroscopic part layout and the top plan view of egative film, and a quilt in the hygroscopic part partly cuts to show following absorbent article core.

Figure 13 has the hygroscopic part of sanitary towel of another alternative hygroscopic part layout and the top plan view of egative film, and one in the hygroscopic part is also partly cut to show following absorbent article core.

Figure 14 one can adopt the flat sheet of the bottom view of the sanitary towel of hygroscopic part layout shown in Figure 13, has shown a preferred adhesive applying fixture figure among the figure.

But Figure 15 one has the simple broken section top view of the sanitary towel of a plurality of expanding sections.

Figure 16 is the top view plane sketch of a sanitary towel, but the top flat of this sanitary towel has the expansion area, but its pattern is different with egative film expansion area pattern.

Figure 17 is the end view plane sketch of sanitary towel shown in Figure 16.

The specific embodiment

The present invention relates to absorbent device such as sanitary towel, short underpants lining, incontinent person's liner one class.Fig. 1～4 are the sketch of a preferred embodiment of disposable absorbent article of the present invention, the i.e. sketch of sanitary towel 20.Sanitary towel has one first section 6, one second section 8 and one the 3rd section 10.But separated by a expanding section for first section 6 and second sections 8, but should be called first interlude 12 by expanding section such as the extending interlude of flexibility.But second section 8 and the 3rd section 10 are similarly by an expanding section, and promptly flexible tensile second interlude 14 separates.

There are two faces in sanitary towel 20, but the Body contact face of a transflective liquid or abbreviation " health face " 20A and a liquid-tight medicated clothing face 20B.The view of sanitary towel 20 for being watched shown in Figure 1 from its health face.Health face 20A is intended to be through contiguous wearer's health.Contiguous wearer's medicated clothing was placed when the medicated clothing face 20B (being shown among Fig. 2) of sanitary towel 20 was intended to be worn in sanitary towel.

There are two centrages in sanitary towel 20, a longitudinal centre line L and a transverse centerline.Here said " vertically " speech is meant a line in sanitary towel 20 planes, an axle or a direction, when sanitary towel 20 wear this " vertically " substantially with the wearer who will stand be divided into the vertical plane of left and right two half bodies consistent (as, almost parallel).Here said " laterally " or " side direction " two speech can exchange, and this speech is meant a line in sanitary towel 20 planes, an axle or a direction, are somebody's turn to do " laterally " substantially with vertically vertical.

Sanitary towel 20 has 22, two horizontal edges that separate of two vertical sides that separate or end limit (or claim " end ") 24 as seen from Figure 1, and vertically side 22 has constituted the periphery 26 of sanitary towel with horizontal edge 24.Sanitary towel also has two petiolareas, first petiolarea 28 and second petiolarea 30.Between petiolarea 28 and 30, be provided with a central area 32.Respectively stretch out about length of 1/8～about 1/3 of sanitary towel's 20 length overalls of petiolarea 28 and 30 from two edges of central area 32.Authorized in the United States Patent (USP) 4,690,680 of Higgins more detailed narration on the 1st relevant for the characteristic of the central area of sanitary towel and two petiolareas JIUYUE in 1987.

Sanitary towel 20 can be an any thickness, comprises thicker, relatively thinner even very thin.The embodiment of the sanitary towel 20 shown in the Fig. 1 in the accompanying drawing～4 is intended to as the example of thin sanitary towel.Preferably " ultra-thin " sanitary towel narration to some extent in the United States Patent (USP) 4,950,264 and 5,009,653 of authorizing Osborn.Shown sanitary towel 20 also should be soft so that comfortable and easy to wear.Here should be appreciated that the sanitary towel shown in Fig. 1～4 only is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to absorbent device such or that have the concrete configuration shown in the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 shows each parts of sanitary towel 20 of the present invention.Sanitary towel 20 shown in Figure 1 generally is made of three critical pieces at least, and they comprise egative film 40 and absorbent article core between top flat 38 and egative film 40 that the top flat 38, of a transflective liquid can not transflective liquid.Top flat, egative film and absorbent article core can be made of the stock that many kinds are generally used for this purpose.Under the effect of the power that these materials are produced when wearing sanitary towel can or relatively not extending or relatively tensile.Yet if these materials are relatively not extending, preferred way is will carry out mechanical degeneration to the part of these materials at least, or as below will being described in detail flexible extending interlude 12 and 14 is set in sanitary towel.

In the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1～4, top flat 38 usefulness are a kind of according to the United States Patent (USP) 4,342,314 of authorizing people such as Radel with authorize the porous shaping membrane that people's such as Ahr United States Patent (USP) 4,463,045 makes and constitute.Absorbent article core 42 is made of a lamination that is clipped in the gel absorption material (or " superabsorbent aquogel type material ") between the two-layer air lay thin paper.Egative film 40 is made of polyethylene film.Sanitary towel 20 shown in Fig. 1～4 is assembled into a sandwich structure, and wherein the length of top flat 38 and egative film 40 and width dimensions are generally bigger than absorbent article core 42.Top flat 38 and egative film 40 extend to outside the edge of absorbent article core 42, and both link together becomes the periphery of sanitary towel 20 26 each sections.

First section 6, second sections 8 with the 3rd section 10 constitute that each of sanitary towel is relative can not extension.Because their residing positions in sanitary towel, first section 6, second sections 8 and the 3rd sections 10 also can correspondingly be called leading portion, stage casing and back segment.These sections can be made of the parts made from conventional material in the sanitary towel, do not change with the assembling of the method for routine and behind machinery remodeling.These of sanitary towel can not have the flexibility of any present commercially available sanitary towel and very low extensibility by extension relatively like this.Authorize and narrated the flexibility that some more softish present commercially available sanitary towel is suitable in the United States Patent (USP) 4,950,264 and 5,009,653 of Osborn.At present commercially available sanitary towel to act under the effect of power of sanitary towel during wearing all be relatively not extending generally.This sanitary towel under the tensile force effect of about 50 grams (power)～about, 1500 grams (power) of the structural intergrity of not destroying sanitary towel extensibility approximately less than 5%.

Yet in alternative, first section 6, second sections 8 have bigger extensibility rather than relative not extending (for example under the effect of above-mentioned power extensibility more than or equal to 5%) with the 3rd section 10 than conventional sanitary towel.If first section 6, second sections 8 and the 3rd sections 10 have certain extensibility, these sections of sanitary towel 20 preferably must have lower flexibility and extensibility than the extending interlude 12 of flexibility and 14 so." the low extensibility section " that therefore, can be called sanitary towel for first of sanitary towel 20 section 6, second sections 8 and the 3rd sections 10." so low extensibility section " though this speech covered first, second, third section for not extending relatively and for tensile but extensibility than the low two kinds of situations of interlude.

Flexible extending interlude 12 and 14 can get sanitary towel any suitable, than the version of the more soft easier elongation of low extensibility section contiguous in the sanitary towel.Interlude 12 and 14 makes sanitary towel have extending (be preferably and can stretch) district, so sanitary towel can stretch along with wearer's underwear and comfort when pressing close to wearer's health together.Interlude 12 and 14 also has an advantage, and promptly they are as the extending expansion joint (expansion joint) of flexibility, and contiguous low extensibility section can be rotated to adapt to each position of wearer's body.

The interlude 12 of sanitary towel 20 and 14 extensibility are shown among Fig. 3.The meaning of alleged here " extending " or " can expand " speech is meant that at least a portion at least one direction in X-Y plane of absorbent device or whole absorbent device can increase.Here defined X-Y plane is one and is oriented to the plane surperficial parallel with 20A, the 20B of sanitary towel 20.As shown in Figure 3, X-axis is machine-direction oriented (being parallel to longitudinal centre line L), and Y-axis is horizontal orientation (being parallel to transverse centerline).Because said extensibility is meant on X-Y plane here, so this extensibility is different from the increase that the absorbent device of a bending is straightend into the length of a smooth shape.Because said extensibility is meant planarly substantially here, this extensibility is different from the absorbent device that a folding is got up or the increase of its unfolded any length of parts.

But the expanding section as interlude 12 and 14 may comprise a slice on (but had better not comprise) Z direction is stacked in folding clinch on another sheet.Preferably will be arranged in side by side relation substantially in any ridge projection of expanding section 12 and 14 li formation, and it highly preferably wants little of significantly not changing the surface characteristic of sanitary towel or not departing from the top flat plane.The height of the ridge of any this class preferably is less than or equal to 1.5 millimeters, height of projection be less than or equal to 1 millimeter then better.Like this, but expanding section does not have this bigger motion that is opened of folding place when in use flexible, and this big athletic meeting causes wearer's attention and unfavorable to the wearer.

Interlude 12 and 14 compliance make that also first section 6, second sections 8 and the 3rd sections 10 of low extensibility can turn to as shown in Figure 4 on the Z direction.At above-mentioned PCT patent publication No. WO92/10984 (U.S. Patent application serial number 08/129,000), present name is called the United States Patent (USP) 5 of " Sanitary NapkinHaving Transversely Segmented Core " (sanitary towel with core of transversal sectional), have in 484,430 because the description that the existence of interlude 12 and 14 can turn to low extensibility section by any way.Low extensibility section also can be rendered as aforesaid with any configuration described in nominal disclosed EPO number of patent application 0 605 017 A2 of Tong-ho J.Hsieh.

In addition, that sanitary towel 20 is had is above-mentioned with the unexistent overall extensibility of sanitary towel in the nominal disclosed EPO list of references of Tong-ho J.Hsieh for interlude 12 and 14.More particularly, EPO publication number 0 605 017 A2 describe its sanitary towel be a kind of front and rear sections that allows absorbent device freely crooked upward and with the contacted structure of the health of user; The structure of described sanitary towel can stop the transverse compression of sanitary towel's interlude to sanitary towel's front and rear sections transmission.It is said that the front and rear sections of conventional sanitary towel makes the longitudinal rigidity of absorbent device increase (this point does not wish to exist), this makes this sanitary towel more be difficult to present the bent configuration of hope.

This EPO is open to be described as forming " expansion joint " (" an expansion joint ") with its absorbent device between first and second sections of sanitary towel.But careful this EPO of reading again openly back just can find out, does not make sanitary towel produce " expansion " of elongate form veritably at these joints.This EPO discloses, and said " expansion joint " is some sections of sanitary towel, is provided with some grooves forming the axis that some are easy to bend in the absorbent article core of these sections, so sanitary towel can present crooked configuration.But be positioned at transflective liquid tectal on the position of each groove and be provided with a line of rabbet joint.On liquid-tight barrier layer an extensile pleat arranged on the position between this recess edge.So in the sanitary towel shown in above-mentioned EPO is open, the part of only regarding as " expansion " is the band pleat part that is positioned on the product limit with this groove liquid-tight barrier layer together.Have only when the front and rear sections of sanitary towel upwards turns up crooked configuration, or be compressed and this band pleat partial rotation on barrier layer and with the front and rear sections of described compression and sanitary towel when isolated when the stage casing of sanitary towel, this part on barrier layer is only " expansion ".Because absorbent article core is incompressible along the longitudinal centre line of product substantially, thus product not because of this " expansion joint " product vertically longitudinally centrage have overall extensibility.

Yet to disclose described product different with above-mentioned EPO with 14 for the extending interlude 12 that is shown in the sanitary towel of the present invention 20 in Fig. 1～4, and they make sanitary towel have all tensile zone on whole width.The extending interlude 12 of sanitary towel 20 is being through sanitary towel under the effect of the relevant power in the underwear with 14, the elongation of each interlude can be greater than about 5% to about 50%, then better between about 10%～40%, be preferably between about 25%～40%.So sanitary towel is preferably under the effect from about 50～100 grams (power) to the power of about 1000～1500 grams (power), is preferably to restrain under the effect of power of (power) to 800 and has aforesaid elongation at about 250 grams (power).About this point, should be understood that the limit that cited and scope comprise that all narrow scopes, the limit and numerical value all are within the limit of stipulating and scope here.Extending interlude 12 and 14 also makes sanitary towel have overall extensibility.

As shown in Figure 3, sanitary towel 20 preferably is stretchable at least in the vertical.Fig. 3 also represents, but the different parts elongation of drawing zone 12 and 14 can vary in size, so the several low extensibility section of sanitary towel can produce lateral displacement relative to each other.For example, first section 6 can be with respect to second section 8 laterally offset, thereby the longitudinal edge of a side of first section 6 is just outside the longitudinal edge of lateral run-out to the second section 8 homonymies.This is very beneficial for making sanitary towel can more closely fit consistent with wearer's health and underwear when the wearer makes large-scale body kinematics.

In other embodiments, sanitary towel 20 can have several can be in laterally (or Y to) or extending section of extending on more than one direction.For example, there are two vertical zones of extensibility (extending section 12 and 14) and horizontal zones of extensibility (horizontal tensile interlude 16 and 18) in sanitary towel 20 as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.(about this point, be to be understood that, though mainly the extending interlude 12 and 14 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1～4 is narrated here for simplicity, here the characteristic of the extending interlude of being narrated also may be used on shown here and the narration any other extending section.)

In some preferred embodiment, extending section 12 and 14 of sanitary towel 20 also is stretchable except extending.Here used " can stretch " speech refers to articles for use or its each section and is being subjected to being tensile and stretching presented certain resistance as the time spent of tensile force.Be more preferably, extending section 12 and 14 of sanitary towel 20 is flexibly stretchable.Here used " flexibly can stretch " and " flexibly extending " two speech are synonyms.The meaning of this two speech is after tensile force removes, and these of sanitary towel section will be tending towards being returned to their non-stretching or non-elongation (or " original ") size.Yet extending section 12 and 14 of sanitary towel 20 needn't all be returned to non-stretching size.On the random size that these extending section may be got back between non-stretching size and the stretched dimension (or geometrical extension).Preferably do not use for extending section 12 and 14 conventional elastic cord is stretched and the method on the not extending substantially parts of being connected in that it is become is flexibly stretchable.Extending section 12 and 14 of sanitary towel become flexibly can stretch the elongation that will reduce sanitary towel extending section 12 and 14 unfavorable tendency that when the power of stretching sanitary towel is removed, presents the overrelaxation.When shrinking again after wearer's underwear elongation, this point is significant especially.

Extending section 12 and 14 of embodiment shown in Fig. 1～4 preferably be arranged near and comprise two petiolareas 28 and 30 and central area 32 between the border in interior zone.This just allows first, second and the 3rd district 6,8 and 10 of low extensibility can relatively move and turn to each zone of coming with wearer's body to fit mutually, and this point has a large amount of narrations in aforesaid patent application that is called " Sanitary Napkin HavingTransversely Segmented Core ".Among as directed other embodiment, but the expansion area can be along the peripheral part of sanitary towel along its longitudinal edge 22, end limit 24 or the two) be provided with.

But the size range of the expanding section that various embodiment described here are used is very wide.For example, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1～4, but can be along the lateral dimension of the expanding section of laterally measuring greatly to the overall width that equals sanitary towel.In other embodiment shown in Figure 15, but the lateral dimension of expanding section can only account for the part of napkin width.The longitudinal size of the expanding section that can longitudinally measure similarly can only account for the part of sanitary towel's length, also can be greatly to the total length that equals sanitary towel.The longitudinal size of the extending interlude of longitudinally measuring in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1～4 should be less than the total length of sanitary towel, preferably should be substantially less than the total length of sanitary towel, and sanitary towel will be easy to manufacturing like this.The suitable longitudinal size of extending interlude for instance, can be to be less than or equal to about 1 inch (about 2.5 centimetres).

As top pointing out, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1～4, can (preferably certain) give sanitary towel 20 overall extensibilities for extending section 12 and 14.Sanitary towel 20 preferably can be just like P﹠amp; The PCT publication number WO 93/01785 described extending amount of G is exactly that sanitary towel preferably can extend about 5% to less than 50% in short.Can also give sanitary towel of the present invention any other performance with sanitary towel described in the PCT publication number WO 93/01785, comprise a kind of structure with " power barrier ", do not have under the substantial increase in the power that acts in the sanitary towel, this power barrier stops the percentage elongation of sanitary towel to be no more than certain definite value.

Flexible extending section 12 and 14 can comprise any suitable structures that can make sanitary towel have various performances described here.Flexible extending section 12 and 14 can be one with one or several parts of sanitary towel or the individual components group that is attached thereto.For example, flexible extending interlude 12 and 14 suitable structures can comprise a slice or several independently materials than the more soft easier elongation of material of adjacent segment, and independently material or sheet can connect and be connected across on first, second and the 3rd section of adjacency of sanitary towel for these.This class material can or the intrinsic property of its material than the more soft easier elongation of material (as elastomeric material) of adjacent segments, thereby or certain folding that is suitable for is that get up, that beaten pleat or through the bigger compliance of having of metataxis and the material of extensibility.

Also can select the structure that is made as one with the different layers or the parts of sanitary towel adjacent segments for extending section 12 and 14 for use, but material will make its part of forming low extensibility adjacent segments than these materials have bigger compliance and extensibility through changing (for example machinery, chemistry or other) on these sections.For the ease of making, preferably form extending section 12 and 14 by this way.Can any stage in process of production carry out metataxis for extending section 12 and 14.Can also can be used on the method for on each section of sanitary towel, carrying out metataxis after sanitary towel's assembling finishes and make it have compliance and extensibility with the method for one or several parts of sanitary towel being carried out metataxis before they are assembled into sanitary towel separately for extending section 12 and 14.Top flat 38 and egative film 40 preferably carried out metataxis respectively before sanitary towel 20 assembles.

Can be used on egative film 38 and top flat 40 constitutes the method for making wrinkle or roll extrusion (or pre-corrugation) on the desired area of extending section 12 and 14 parts and increases compliance and the extensibility that top flat 38 and top flat 40 contain extending section 12 and 14 part.The rolling depression method that is suitable for is narrated in following United States Patent (USP): authorized the United States Patent (USP) 4,107,364 of Sisson on August 15th, 1978; Authorized the United States Patent (USP) 4,834,741 of Sabee on May 30th, 1989; JIUYUE in 1992 were authorized people's such as Gerald M.Weber United States Patent (USP) 5,143,679 on the 1st; Authorized people's such as Kenneth B.Buell United States Patent (USP) 5,156,793 on October 20th, 1992; Decembers in 1992 were authorized people's such as Gerald M.Weber United States Patent (USP) 5,167,897 on the 1st.

Preferable method is to form deformable mesh to increase the compliance and the extensibility of top flat 38 and egative film 40 on the desired area of top flat 38 and egative film 40 extending section 12 of formation and 14 parts.Fig. 1～4 have shown at top flat 38 and egative film 40 and have been positioned at the deformable mesh 62 that forms on the position of 20 extending sections 12 of sanitary towels and 14.The technology that forms deformable mesh on raw material is particularly useful here, goes because the technology resemble the roll extrusion can easily be used the high-speed production operation, and this just there is no need whole or the pleating or folding of its part absorbent device.And it is that it can adjust the extensibility of deformable mesh with generating the unlimited grid style that is actually number that the technology that forms deformable mesh on raw material also has a very big advantage.This technology also can make the zones of extensibility of sanitary towel not use additional elastomeric material and have the class elastic elongation.Owing to be used for normally a kind of thin film of matrix material (or at least one parts is thin film) of forming variable shape grid, therefore this material that has been shaped is called structure class elastic film or " SELF " material here habitually.

The characteristic of the deformable mesh 62 of this SELF material is discussed with reference to Fig. 7～7C here.Fig. 7～7C is depicted as an enlarged drawing that is formed with the net sheet material 60 of deformable mesh 62.Net sheet material 60 shown in Fig. 7～7C can constitute the part that top flat 38 or egative film 40 are positioned at sanitary towel's interlude 12 and 14.(top flat and/or the egative film that also may be selected to be whole sanitary towel all are made of the SELF net sheet material 60 that is formed with deformable mesh.) under the situation of Fig. 7～7C, net sheet material 60 is a top sheet materials, for simplicity, does not demonstrate any aperture on the net sheet material.Fig. 7 and 7A represent that net sheet material 60 is in non-elongation state.The net sheet material 60 that wherein forms deformable mesh 62 has longitudinal centre line (or axis) l and a cross central line (or axis) t.Longitudinal centre line l shown in Figure 7 is a straight line.Yet longitudinal centre line l is not limited to this shape, and longitudinal centre line l can be a straight line for straight line, curve or part, and part is a curve.

Fig. 7 shows that with 7A the net sheet material 60 that includes deformable mesh 62 comprises at least two obvious different and dissimilar zones.Here used " deformable mesh " speech is meant an interconnection and inter-related zone group, and this zone group can be along a predetermined direction elongation in certain significant degree.Fig. 7 and 7A represent that two obvious zoness of different of deformable mesh 62 comprise at least one first area 64 and a second area 66.These two obvious zoness of different make net sheet material 60 have an elastic phase I and the second stage that presents relative high drag that tensile force is presented relative low resistance of class.Deformable mesh 62 is formed on the net sheet material 60.Here used " shaping " this speech is meant makes a required structure or geometry on net sheet material 60, this net sheet material will keep desired structure or geometry substantially when not adding any external force or add elongation.The usability methods of forming variable shape grid includes, but is not limited to intermeshing pair of plates or roller embossing, hot forming, high pressure hydroforming or casting method (casting) on the net sheet material.

Deformable mesh 62 is designed to such shape, to being parallel to the adding before percentage elongation produces significant drag of predetermined shaft (here for the longitudinal axis 1) direction, its first area 64 will add longitudinal stretch ratio to this and present drag in its essential part of second area 66.Respectively there are a first surface and apparent surface in first and second zones 64 and 66 of deformable mesh 62.When having the configuration of net sheet material 60 of deformable mesh 62, narration uses this speech of " surface-pathlength " (distance of measuring along contoured surface) of zones of different.Shown in Fig. 7 A, the surface-pathlength of first area 64 is littler than second area 66.Surface-pathlength be when the net sheet material is in non-elongation state according to the direction that is parallel to predetermined shaft substantially, measure along certain regional shape face.Shown in Fig. 7 A, second area 66 comprises one or more extension and exceeds deformation unit 74 outside 64 planes, first area.

In the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 7 and the 7A, deformable mesh 62 comprises many first areas 64 and second area 66.In the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 7 and the 7A, first area 64 is plane domain substantially.That is to say that the material in the first area 64 is in identical substantially state in the front and back that net sheet material 60 stands forming process.Second area 66 includes many successive interconnected deformation units 74, and this deformation unit 74 alternately extends and exceeds outside the first and second surperficial 64A and 64B plane of first area 64.In another embodiment, deformation unit 74 only extends beyond outside two the surperficial 64A or a plane among the 64B of first area 64.

As seen from Figure 7, there are a first axle 68 and second axis 69 in the first area 64 of deformable mesh 62, and wherein first axle 68 is the longest like second axis 69.Shown in simplified embodiment in, the first axle 68 of first area 64 is parallel to the longitudinal axis l of deformable net sheet material 60 substantially, and its second axis 69 is parallel to the transverse axis t of deformable net sheet material 60 substantially.The second area 66 of deformable mesh 62 also has a first axle 70 and one second axis 71.The first axle 70 of second area 66 is parallel to the longitudinal axis l of net sheet material 60 substantially, and its second axis 71 is parallel to the transverse axis t of net sheet material 60 substantially.In the net sheet material of Fig. 7 and 7A shown type, first area 64 and second area 66 all are the directions along the longitudinal axis l that is parallel to deformable net sheet material substantially, are substantially to stretch continuously point-blank to arrange.In the embodiment of the sanitary towel shown in Fig. 1～4, the deformable mesh 62 in the net sheet material, top flat 38 and egative film 40 threes' longitudinal centre line l is machine-direction oriented substantially.Yet the extending direction that the longitudinal centre line l of net sheet material can be as requested and being taken on other direction in other embodiments.

The net sheet material 60 that Fig. 7 A, B and C represent to have deformable mesh 62 is done the time spent this is added the situation that elongation presents at least two kinds of visibly different controlled drags in the elongation that adds of the direction that is subjected to being parallel to predetermined shaft.When stage of being between Fig. 7 A and Fig. 7 B, 62 pairs of deformable mesh add percentage elongation and present first drag.Till the situation that presents first drag will last till when the elongation of net sheet material enters the action plane that adds elongation even as big as the overwhelming majority that makes second area 66 shown in Fig. 7 B always.After the stage shown in net sheet material 60 arrival Fig. 7 B, the net sheet material presents second drag (shown in Fig. 7 C) to further elongation.When the net sheet material is used for the top flat 38 of sanitary towel of the present invention and egative film 40, to be that the net sheet material is controlled be in the stage that elongation is presented first drag to typical situation, gets back to the stage shown in Fig. 7 A so the each several part of deformable mesh 62 will only be elongated to the degree shown in Fig. 7 B and can relax.

Can form by such matrix material by top flat and stock footage that deformable mesh 62 is shaped, this matrix material is normally worn in sanitary towel under the effect of suffered power and is presented relative low extensibility, and after the deformable mesh 62 that has been shaped on the matrix material, wear normally in sanitary towel that it will be tensile under the effect of suffered power.Top flat 38 and egative film 40 employed matrix materials can each porous shaping membrane narrated above the freedom and polyethylene film compositions.Yet these matrix materials preferably are made up of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) (LLDPE) basically.Matrix material also can comprise that the blend of low density polyethylene (LDPE) (LDPE), ultra-low density polyethylene (ULDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE) (HDPE) or polypropylene and above-mentioned material and other material is formed by other polyolefin such as polyethylene.Other example that can be used as the macromolecular material that is suitable for of matrix material includes, but not limited to polyester, polyurethane, compostable or biological degradation polyalcohol, thermal contraction polymer, thermoplastic and high-elastic and breathable polymer architecture.

The degree of depth of the degeneration unit 74 in the deformable mesh 62 and quantity can be diversified, so that the size of extending section required active force of control stretching top flat 38 and egative film 40 or percentage elongation.In a preferred embodiment, deformation unit 74 is to be that the rigid template of 5.0 inches * 12 inches * 0.75 inch (2 centimetres of 12.7 cm x, 30.5 cm x) is shaped with two outside dimensions.Be shaped on the tooth of a series of tight engagement on a surface of every template, the section of tooth is essentially triangle, and leg-of-mutton base is that 0.030 inch (0.76 millimeter) also narrowing to the top gradually becomes the circle that a radius is 0.008 inch (0.2 millimeter).The centrage of tooth is evenly distributed with the interval of 0.030 inch (0.76 millimeter).Be shaped on a series of parallel to each other and therein on the one side that is carved with tooth of a template perpendicular to the groove of evenly spaced tooth, these groove widths 0.031 inch (0.8 millimeter) are also extended on the total length of template continuously, the center distance of these grooves is 0.25 inch (6.4 millimeters), and these grooves are corresponding to the not deformed area of matrix material.Preferred matrix material is placed between two templates, template be contained in its workbench than on the bigger hydraulic press of template so that the pressure uniform distribution.Template is with the load pressurization of at least 4000 pounds (1800 kilograms), then from taking out the net sheet material that has been shaped between two templates.If the number of deformation unit is given, along with the increase of net sheet material Deformation Height or deformation extent, it effectively stretches or extends also increases so.Similarly, if Deformation Height or degree are given, number or the frequency along with deformation unit increases its effectively stretching or also increase of elongation so.Be called the U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 08/203 of " Web Materials Exhibiting Elastic-Like Behavior " (showing the net sheet material of elastic-like behaviour) in name such as the usability methods of forming variable shape grid on a part of material of top flat or egative film in the sanitary towel 20 of the present invention with people's such as Chappell name application, done to be described in detail among 087 (the disclosed PCT publication number WO95/03765 on February 9 nineteen ninety-five), the disclosure of quoting these patents here is with for referencial use.

Above-mentioned on top flat 38 and egative film 40 method of forming variable shape grid be particularly suitable for being used for making the zones of different of sanitary towel 20 to have extensibility.The engagement template can be designed so that the various figures that have any extensibility mode in the top flat 38 of sanitary towel 20 as shown in the figure and the egative film 40.If needed, also can be with first area 64 cancellations (in the case, second area 66 becomes successive) of the deformable mesh on top flat and the egative film.Cancellation first area 64 will significantly reduce or eliminate top flat and each regional class elastical retraction tendency of egative film (also therefore also reducing or eliminating two different phases to the controlled drag that adds elongation).Narrated be positioned at zone line 12 and 14 positions about the top flat that makes sanitary towel 20 and egative film and become tensile characteristic after, will analyze characteristic below about the absorbent article core and the absorbent article core assembly of sanitary towel.

Fig. 8 and 9 has shown the optimization approach that absorbent article core 42 is set on the embodiment shown in Fig. 1～4, promptly the interlude 12 and 14 of this sanitary towel 20 is tensile.In the embodiment shown in Fig. 8 and 9, absorbent article core 42 is divided into many isolating core section 42A, 42B and 42C on widthwise.Sanitary towel also is provided preferably with a slice or several overlapping moisture absorption layers (overlying absorbent layers) 44, and this overlapping moisture absorption layer 44 is crossed over contiguous core section 42A, 42B and the gap of 42C.A slice or several overlapping moisture absorption layers 44 can consider to be used as the part of absorbent article core 42, or become an individual components of sanitary towel.

Fig. 8 and 9 shows that overlapping moisture absorption layer 44 preferably is connected with the position of top flat 38 between two SELF districts 12 and 14, thus the overlapping moisture absorption layer 44 of not extending or low extensibility with tensile through not mutual interference mutually of mesozone 12 and 14 that SELF handled.Described connection can be adopted any suitable method, as using bonding agent bond 46.Independently core section 42A, 42B that underlays and 42C similarly and the position of egative film between two SELF districts 12 and 14 link together.Yet, preferably with independently core section 42A, 42B's overlapping moisture absorption layer 44 are not connected with interior any other parts with 42C or sanitary towel's 20 peripheries, thereby when sanitary towel was stretched as shown in Figure 9, overlapping moisture absorption layer 44 can be with respect to independently core section 42A, 42B and 42C freely slide.Here used " connection " speech comprises following several structure: one is that one of them parts directly is fixed on another parts with the method that attaches; Two are one of them parts not directly on another parts but be attached to earlier on one or several middleware, are attached to successively on another parts again; Three make one for one of them parts and another parts, and promptly parts are essentially the part of another parts.

The hygroscopic part of sanitary towel 20, as isolating core section and overlapping moisture absorption layer etc., available any suitable mode is connected with egative film etc. with desirable sanitary towel parts such as top flat.The suitable means that connects these parts comprise use bonding agent, stitching, heat and/or pressure in conjunction with, dynamic mechanically in conjunction with, ultra-sonic welded and fiber or form the mutual mixing of other structural member of sanitary towel's parts or entanglement (such as the fiber melt-blowing that will form parts on another parts and that parts are squeezed in another parts is first-class) or any other means well known in the art.The means that several connection sanitary towel parts are wherein arranged have narration in December in 1991 the 17 days U.S. Patent application serial number 07/810,744 with people's such as Cree name application (PCT patent publication No. WO is open on June 24th, 93/11725,1993).

Top flat 38 and egative film 40 can link together with any method that allows sanitary towel's interlude 12 and 14 elongations.As shown in Figure 1, top flat 38 is preferably along sealing surface (seal) 90 such peripheral sealing device and egative film 40 Joints.Sealing surface 90 is preferably liquid-tight.Any means that sealing surface 90 can adopt this area to be used for this purpose constitute, as gummed, wrinkleization (crimping) or heat sealing.There are many means can be used between top flat 38 and egative film 40, making liquid-tight stretchable peripheral sealing surface.

In a particularly preferred sanitary towel embodiment shown in Fig. 1～4, the marginal portion of top flat 38 and egative film 40 links together with the periphery of a kind of extending bonding agent 92 around sanitary towel.The mechanical bond point 94 that also has preferred distribution in addition in the surrounding zone.Extending bonding agent 92 provides tensile liquid-tight sealing surface around the periphery 26 of sanitary towel, and mechanical bond point 94 provides added strength.Mechanical bond point 94 is distributed in the interruption district between combined belt (or district) 96 and the non-binding band (or district) 98.In the embodiment depicted in fig. 1, land 96 be many and sanitary towel 20 periphery 26 approximate vertical intermediate phase every line segment.Land 96 should separate with non-binding district 98 in the required extensibility direction of the absorbent device that is fully assembled.Land 96 is not extending, but not land 98 is tensile.The land preferentially selects for use heat pressing process to form, and wherein employed temperature and pressure are controlled, thus be form the material or the material of composition egative film of top flat can fusion in technical process.Polyethylene shaped film topsheet with SELF zone can be shaped with hot plate with the suitable sealing device with the polyethylene film egative film in SELF zone, this hot plate has the elevated regions of the shape of land as shown in Figure 1, the approximate size of elevated regions is 6 millimeters * 2 millimeters, 5 millimeters at interval.Hot plate is heated to 5 seconds of 170 degrees Fahrenheits (76.7 ℃), with hand sealing device is shaped.U.S. Patent application serial number 08/192, the 240 (P﹠amp that in the name of 1994.2.4, asks with people such as Osborn; Being described in detail of other usability methods that the parts that connect extensible absorbent articles are arranged G case numbers 5151).

The component connecting method of above-mentioned sanitary towel 20 is convenient and preferred in order to design, and other means that connect various parts also can adopt.For example, the present invention also comprises the product of a kind of what is called " tubular type ".In these products, one thoroughly the cladding material of liquid (such as top sheet materials) absorbent article core and egative film can be rolled in fully the inside and be fixed together then.In alternative layout, top flat wraps in absorbent article core the inside earlier, and the absorbent article core of wrapping is put and is fixed on the egative film.

A highly preferred adnexa of sanitary towel 20 shown in Figure 10 and 11 expression each figure of front.Shown in Figure 10 and 11, sanitary towel 20 can be with the such parts of separator (or claim " stabilized zone ") 48, and this stabilized zone 48 is at overlapping moisture absorption layer 44 with independently between absorbent article core section 42A, 42B and the 42C.Any unwanted interferential tendency takes place when sliding relatively between the end limit that act as each independent core section of prevention of stabilized zone 48 and the overlapping hygroscopic part 44.In other words, stabilized zone 48 has stopped independent core section 42A, 42B and the end limit of 42C and being in contact with one another of overlapping hygroscopic part 44, thereby has stoped such slip.

Shown in Figure 10 and 11, stabilized zone 48 has preferably adopted a kind of form that independent core section 42A, 42B and 42C and relative slip between the overlapping hygroscopic part 44 are more prone to.Stabilized zone 48 is liquid thoroughly preferably, and like this, bodily exudate can see through absorbent article core section 42A, 42B and the 42C of stabilized zone 48 below arriving.Stabilized zone 48 can be by any material manufacture that meets this principle.Be applicable to that the material of making stabilized zone 48 includes, but is not limited at least in part with the adhesive-bonded fabric of wrinkle, tensile scrim (scrims) or tensile porous membrane.Two kinds of particularly preferred adhesive-bonded fabric wire sides, a kind of for being the ventilative bonded non-woven material (air-through bondednonwoven material) of raw material with the bicomponent fibers, this material is the Havix company manufacturing by the Gifu City of Japan (being Fukumura) in the past, trade name is HAVIX S2156, this material has been made the micrex wrinkle treatment, this processing can be by Micrex Corporation of Walpole, and MA finishes; Another kind of for being called the adhesive-bonded fabric net of COROLIND PE, this material can be obtained by the Corovin GMBH of Germany, handles through SELF then.

Stabilized zone 48 is preferably its end and is connected with one or more adjacent components in the sanitary towel, and not with sanitary towel central area 32 in any other parts Joint.Shown in Figure 10 and 11, stabilized zone 48 can be with making it have extensibility such as the method for making wrinkle or SELF in the above.The zones of extensibility 50 of stabilized zone 48 can be arranged on any suitable position of stabilized zone, but preferably zones of extensibility 50 is placed on the central area of stabilized zone 48.Like this, when sanitary towel stretched as shown in Figure 10, zones of extensibility just was connected across on contiguous independent core section 42A, the 42B and the gap between the 42C.After the assembly of having narrated the several parts of preferred sanitary towel's embodiment, analyze some preferred accessory that are arranged in the sanitary towel 20 below.

The medicated clothing face 20B of sanitary towel 20 can comprise that (and preferably comprising really) is fixed on fixture on wearer's underwear with sanitary towel.Fig. 2 has represented the selected fixture 52 that sanitary towel is fixed on interior crotch area.Have been found that have bonding agent and preferably the fixture of pressure adhesive can well reach this purpose.Usually all cover cover tape or the release liner that one deck can be taken off above the fixture of bonding agent, be adhered to before use on the interior crotch area surface in addition to avoid the bonding agent on the fixture.At United States Patent (USP) 4,917, being described in detail of suitable bonding agent and release liner arranged in 697.In the United States Patent (USP) 4,556,146 of authorizing Swanson, narrated one also as the preferred release liner of the outer package of the sanitary towel of independent packaging.Sanitary towel 20 of the present invention will throw off any release liner in use and sanitary towel 20 is put in the underwear, thereby bonding agent or other fixture 52 contact with underwear and sanitary towel is remained on should having on the position of underwear.

Also can there be many different embodiments in sanitary towel of the present invention, and for example Figure 12 represents to be used for the egative film with special preferable shape 40 and the absorbent article core 42 of sanitary towel of the present invention.U.S. Patent application serial number 08/192, the 240 (P﹠amp that mentions in the above; G case numbers 5151) being described in detail relevant for this preferable shape and its advantage in.Figure 12 has also represented alternative absorbent article core 42 embodiment, and in this embodiment, absorbent article core has many lines of rabbet joint 100.These lines of rabbet joint are preferably horizontal orientation and line up many row, and the line of rabbet joint 100 on the adjacent column staggers mutually, so the slot area of absorbent article core 42 can be at longitudinal tensile strain.Yet, but in other embodiment as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 its petiolarea transverse extension, it is machine-direction oriented that absorbent article core can have several groups of lines of rabbet joint at least, but so the absorbent article core 42 of sanitary towel 20 be transverse extension at least in part.In addition, in the preferred variant as shown in figure 12 of this embodiment, on the absorbent article core 42 of trough of belt seam, can be provided with one deck do not have the line of rabbet joint, thoroughly liquid, the material of moisture absorption preferably, liquid can not shift by the line of rabbet joint in sanitary towel's elongation like this, and the line of rabbet joint will conceal from wearer's vision.But in the embodiment that has, it is unessential concealing this requirement of the line of rabbet joint from vision, at this moment the hygroscopic material of this saturating liquid can be placed on absorbent article core 42 below.

Figure 13 is another alternative embodiment of sanitary towel of the present invention, and wherein absorbent article core is except that all have the line of rabbet joint on the almost all surfaces the two ends.In this embodiment, top flat 38 is preferably in and all is formed with SELF (though also can be only being formed with SELF on the selected zone of top flat 38 or area) on the whole surface.The regional internal shaping that egative film 40 is preferably in corresponding to the extending interlude 12 of sanitary towel 20 and 14 has SELF.In this embodiment, also can on absorbent article core 42, put the Moisture-absorptive lining pad 44 of a low extensibility.The no line of rabbet joint district 102 of absorbent article core is preferably extends about one inch (about 25 millimeters) inwardly from the two ends of absorbent article core.At absorbent article core is under the very softish situation, and the absorbent article core that two ends have a no line of rabbet joint district helps the operation of sanitary towel especially.The two ends sclerosis that the line of rabbet joint can make sanitary towel is not set at the two ends of absorbent article core 42, and the tendency of folding appearred in two ends when this helped to eliminate sanitary towel's use.Figure 13 represents that also this embodiment might as top flat 38, make some parts of absorbent device its whole area and have extensibility, waits other parts then only to have extensibility on the selected position of their entire areas as egative film 40 and absorbent article core 42.Zones of extensibility on each parts preferably will align, so that the whole zone of sanitary towel is tensile.But may need to provide a kind of sanitary towel embodiment, wherein the extending part on each parts of sanitary towel does not line up yet, to obtain different effects or different properties of product.

A kind of particularly preferred style of sanitary towel's fixture 52 of preferable shape shown in Figure 14 has represented to have, this fixture 52 are to be used for sanitary towel 20 attached on wearer's the underwear.Fixture 52 comprises that the medicated clothing face 20B of sanitary towel 20 goes up the zone of many immobilization materials that independently separate.Shown in preferred embodiment in, fixture 52 is a kind of pressure adhesives.The adhesive securement device preferably is positioned at egative film 40 not on the zone that SELF handles, because in that the adhesive securement device is set on such smooth surface is easy on than the surface that is being formed with the SELF zone.More particularly, fixture 52 is arranged in three zones such as 52A, 52B and 52C, and 52A and 52B comprise the U-shaped or the shape of a hoof zone at sanitary towel two ends, and 52C is near a pair of machine-direction oriented zone that separates 32 two longitudinal edges of sanitary towel's central area 22.

Though Figure 15 shows that one is not best, have another sanitary towel 20 of some characteristic of the present invention.Sanitary towel 20 shown in Figure 15 has several separated sidewards independent core section 42A, 42B and 42C, and these core sections may optionally be as P﹠amp; The linkage section 104 with a neck shape is continuous like that shown in the PCT patent publication No. WO 92/10984 of G.Neck shape linkage section 104 shown in Figure 15 is several absorbent article core 42 recessed districts 106 that distribute along the side of sanitary towel 20.Recessed district 106 can be shape arbitrarily, comprises that deleting of different shape cut, breach, the line of rabbet joint.All have on the top flat 38 of sanitary towel 20 and the egative film 40 along extending section 12 and 14 of recessed district 106 that the side of absorbent article core 42 is crossed over.Different with the top flat of having opened breach in the described sanitary towel of Tong-hoJ.Hsieh patent disclosure, the top flat 38 of sanitary towel shown in Figure 15 is to be made by the successive extensible materials of crossing over recessed district along the side of absorbent article core 42.Extending section of top flat and egative film had better not be connected with absorbent article core.

But but the expanding section of the expanding section of top flat 38 and egative film 40 preferably also wants longitudinal extension to exceed to contain the absorbent article core part in recessed district 106, thereby they are positioned at the above and below of at least a portion absorbent article core 42.Can expand the borderline phase ratio that section boundary is limited to recessed district 106 with handle, do to make these regional top flats and egative film have bigger extensibility like this.This configuration of sanitary towel's parts makes top flat and egative film form an extendible covering in the both sides of absorbent device, but this covering can stretch round the absorbent article core in sanitary towel's expanding section.In other embodiments, top flat 38, egative film 40 or both may have extensibility on their additional section whole width.

Along the delta-shaped region 12 and 14 on two vertical sides 22 of sanitary towel vertically is being tensile as shown like that.Along the delta-shaped region on sanitary towel's back end edge 24 is tensile as shown like that in the horizontal.Sanitary towel 20 also can have a similar delta-shaped region on its front end edge.Extending section of the top flat 38 of sanitary towel shown in Figure 15 and egative film 40 is that the method that is used in this zone internal shaping SELF obtains its extensibility.In other embodiments, these zones can be provided with extensibility by roll extrusion or any other method described here.Also have among some embodiment, the carinate or rib shape protrusion element in extending section can be orientated by the direction of other any requirement to change the direction of extensibility.For instance, along in the delta-shaped region on two vertical sides of sanitary towel, the direction of ridge (ridges) can be longitudinally, thereby this zone is laterally tensile.In the delta-shaped region on the end limit of sanitary towel, the direction of ridge can be horizontal, thereby this zone is vertically tensile.Ridge in any zones of different can have any other suitable figure, such as radiation shape.

Absorbent article core embodiment illustrated in fig. 15 can also be that the line of rabbet joint arranged or sectional except gap.In other embodiments, in recessed district 106, can insert the isolating hygroscopic material of a slice.If the isolating hygroscopic material of this sheet is not extending, it had better not be connected with the recessed remainder of distinguishing the absorbent article core in 106 so.On the contrary, the isolating hygroscopic material tablet of so non-extensibility can link to each other with egative film 38, or more betterly links to each other with egative film 40.If the isolating hygroscopic material of this sheet is tensile, it can link to each other with the recessed remainder of distinguishing the absorbent article core 42 in 106 so.This structure becomes absorbent article core 42 on selected position tensile, and whole absorbent article core all need not be adopted may be more expensive extending hygroscopic material make.Isolating hygroscopic material tablet can be placed on the local of any needs of sanitary towel and have any suitable shape.Each embodiment described here can also have any combination in shown in the accompanying drawing or the various zones of being narrated here.For example sanitary towel can have several zones of extensibility and several as shown in Figure 15 triangle zones of extensibility as among Fig. 1～4 embodiment, but extending section shape described here and position are not limited to those shapes shown in the drawings and position.Extending section any suitable place that needs extensibility that can be positioned at the absorbent device main part of absorbent device or its parts.

An advantage of sanitary towel 20 shown in Figure 15 is that zone that this sanitary towel is positioned at the recessed district 106 on absorbent article core 42 edges can resemble and opens the fan and turn to, and do not resemble the EPO patent publication No. 0605017A2 of Tong-hoJ.Hsieh described on top flat 38 gap.This with regard to make these zones can such as move the requirement and do not change the surface texture of sanitary towel.Just because of this, embodiment shown in Figure 15 is equivalent to a kind of improvement of the described articles for use of EPO patent disclosure to Tong-ho J.Hsieh.In the described articles for use of EPO patent application, the line of rabbet joint on sanitary towel's coverage rate has formed a passage that makes liquid directly lead to the barrier layer without the moisture absorption layer that is inserted.

Figure 15 can also be used to representing another possible embodiment of sanitary towel, is provided with extending part in some sections of the top flat of this embodiment and egative film.The top flat 38 of sanitary towel shown in Figure 15 and egative film 40 combine with absorbent article core 42 in a label is 108 land.The structure of sanitary towel can be that top flat 38 and egative film 40 are together with each other at the periphery place of sanitary towel, but the zone beyond 108 does not link to each other with absorbent article core in the land.In this case, top flat 38 preferably or have a liquid delivery member, or liquid can transmit between top flat and absorbent article core.Such embodiment is different with situation shown in Figure 15, in Figure 15 top flat 38 and egative film 40 only shown in the zone be tensile, and the top flat 38 of this embodiment and egative film 40 can have extensibility on any or all position that is positioned at beyond the land 108.So just produce a kind of sanitary towel, the top flat of this sanitary towel, egative film and absorbent article core are to combine to become an integral unit at the representative region place of liquid deposition.Be positioned at land 108 that part of top flat and egative film in addition and can form a kind of tensile " pocket " in the remainder outside of absorbent article core.When wearer's health moved with respect to the neighbouring part of its underwear, the extending part that forms those top flats of extending pocket can be adjusted and be adapted to wearer's health, and the extending part of egative film can be adjusted and be adapted to wearer's underwear.

Figure 16 and 17 represents health face 20A one side and medicated clothing face 20B one side of an embodiment of sanitary towel, has the parts of different expandable areas above these two side 20A, 20B have.Might not overlap but but Figure 16 and 17 illustrated embodiments show expansion area on the top flat 38 and their orientation of expansion area and the position on the egative film 40, or have only the orientation of part zones of extensibility and position to overlap.But but the expansion area of top flat 38 also might not overlap with the shape and the extensibility direction of the expansion area of egative film 40.As shown in figure 16, but the top flat 38 of this embodiment has the expansion area 12A and the 14A of a pair of V-arrangement, but the direction of point (bases) directed in opposite and point to the end limit 24 of sanitary towel 20 at the bottom of two in the V-arrangement expansion area wherein.As shown in figure 17, egative film 40 has a pair of V-arrangement district 12B and 14B, wherein puts relative to each other at the bottom of two in the V-arrangement district.Relatively Figure 16 can see with Figure 17, but an expansion area 12A on the top flat 38 and the part among the 14A (along the part of two vertical sides 22 of sanitary towel) but and expansion area 12B on the egative film 40 and a part of overlaid among the 14B.Figure 16 and Figure 17 also represent, but but the expansion area 12B of the remainder of the expansion area 12A of top flat 38 and 14A and egative film 40 and 14B are not overlapping.Yet in other embodiments, but but the expansion area on the top flat 38 may be not with egative film 40 on any part overlaid of expansion area.In addition, although but but in Figure 16 and 17 expansion area on the top flat and the expansion area three on the egative film all be vertically tensile, the extending direction of the zones of extensibility on two parts of this of sanitary towel may be different in other embodiments.

Sanitary towel of the present invention has many other embodiments.In other alternative, for instance, extending section 12 and 14 of sanitary towel 20 can be to be positioned at outside the low extensibility section of sanitary towel 20, as is positioned at the place, two ends of sanitary towel, rather than between the low extensibility section of sanitary towel.In addition, in described any one embodiment, can have extending section and low extensibility section (that is the both can have many) of any number here.Extending section of different sanitary towel's embodiments also can be arranged to unlimited a plurality of different figures with low extensibility section.

But absorbent device also structural design must be accurately alike with the described product of EPO patent disclosure of Tong-ho J.Hsieh.In addition, absorbent device can be made into wherein that the several low extensibility section of main part links together with several elastomeric elements.Elastomeric element preferably is not the sort of continuous elastomeric element that is connected with top flat or egative film (this parts only makes top flat or egative film entirely or partly shrink so that they have curvature), be connected but be preferably with the low extensibility section of absorbent device or its parts, so the tension force of two sides of absorbent device equates, and elastomeric element will be used for the low extensibility section of two vicinities of cross-over connection absorbent device, allow them to move relative to one another and turn to.

The alternate means that absorbent device of the present invention can also have a side coating member such as flap (or flank) or other form (side wrappingelements) on some main parts that are connected absorbent device is not as shown in drawings made dirty with protection wearer's underwear and is made absorbent device keep its due position in wearer's underwear.The narration of the absorbent device of dissimilar band flaps and/or side coating member is arranged in following patent, and these patents are: authorized the United States Patent (USP) 4,589,876 of Van Tilburg on May 20th, 1986; Authorized the United States Patent (USP) 4,687,478 of Van Tilburg on August 18th, 1987; Decembers in 1993 were authorized the United States Patent (USP) 5,267,992 of Van Tilburg on the 7th; JIUYUE in 1994 were authorized the United States Patent (USP) 5,344,416 of Niihara on the 6th; JIUYUE in 1994 were authorized people's such as Osborn United States Patent (USP) 5,346,486 on the 13rd; Authorize February 14 nineteen ninety-five people such as Lavash, name is called the United States Patent (USP) 5 of " Absorbent Article Having Flaps and Zones of Differential Extensibility " (absorbent device with flap and difference extensibility district), 389,094; The U.S. Patent application serial number 07/915,133 (disclosed PCT patent disclosure WO94/02096 in people's such as Lavash 3 days February in 1994) of application on July 23rd, 1992; The U.S. Patent application serial number 08/124 of JIUYUE in 1993 application on the 20th, 180 (people's such as Mansfield PCT patent disclosures, publication number is WO94/10200), the U.S. Patent application serial number 08/277,733 of on July 20th, 1994 application people such as (disclosed PCT patent disclosure WO95/03025 on February 2 nineteen ninety-five) Weinberger.

The present invention also can be used for being worn in the absorbent device of other type in the underwear crotch district, such as medicated underpants lining and incontinence." short underpants lining " or " trousers lining " is meant and is generally the ratio sanitary towel smaller and more exquisite absorbent device of women in menstruation interim dress.The name of authorizing Osborn on April 19th, 1988 is called has narrated the example that the suitable trousers with extending section of turning to described here serve as a contrast the absorbent device of form in the United States Patent (USP) 4,738,676 of " Pantiliner " (" medicated underpants lining ").

" incontinence " speech be meant liner, underwear (liner with certain suspension arrangement such as belt or similarly device remain on the due position), articles for use such as absorbent device liner, absorbent device capacity increasing device, panties, mattress and still be that other incontinent person wears no matter this articles for use are grown up.Authorize people's such as Feist United States Patent (USP) 5,300,054 on April 5th, 1994 and authorized the example that narration in people's such as Noel the United States Patent (USP) 5,304,161 has the suitable incontinence that the extending section of turning to described here can be set on April 19th, 1994.

All patents that present patent application is mentioned in the whole text, patent application (comprising any patent that is produced by this application and disclosed accordingly foreign patent application) and open text all are incorporated herein by reference here hereby.Do not admit any document description incorporated by reference here or disclosed the present invention yet conclusively show here.Here also conclusively show and do not admit any material of being narrated that can buy from the market or the description of product here or disclosed the present invention.

Although a plurality of specific embodiments of the present invention have been done diagram and narration, concerning the patent personnel of this area, obviously can also under the situation of not leaving the spirit and scope of the invention, make much other variants and modifications.

Claims (10)

1, the absorbent device (20) of crotch area in a kind of being through, this absorbent device has the longitudinal size of a longitudinal extension and the lateral dimension of a horizontal expansion, and described absorbent device comprises:

But the top flat of a transflective liquid (38);

A liquid-tight egative film (40) that is connected with described top flat (38), but this liquid-tight egative film also includes at least one expansion area and but at least one is than the little district of described expansion area autgmentability; And

Absorbent article core (42) between described top flat and described egative film;

It is characterized in that: described liquid top flat (38) but but include at least one expansion area and at least one than the little district of described expansion area autgmentability, described top flat (38) but in its described expansion area, do not have lap;

Described egative film (40) but in its described expansion area, do not have lap;

Wherein, described top flat (38) but at least one expansion area overlap described absorbent article core (42) at least a portion above, and described egative film (40) but at least one expansion area overlap described absorbent article core (42) at least a portion below.

2, absorbent device as claimed in claim 1 (20), wherein said top flat (38) but described at least one expansion area and described egative film (40) but described at least one expansion area all be positioned on single section of described absorbent device (20), described absorbent article core (42) also is extendible on described section of described absorbent device, so that described absorbent device (20) has at least one other section (6 than this absorbent device, 8,10) but the expanding section (12 of easier expansion, 14,16,18).

3, absorbent device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 (20), wherein said top flat (38) and described egative film (40) respectively define a plane, and described top flat (38) but described at least one expansion area and described egative film (40) but described at least one expansion area on described top flat plane and described egative film plane, be extendible respectively.

4, absorbent device as claimed in claim 1 (20), this absorbent device have a longitudinal centre line (L), a cross central line (T), first end limit (24), second end limit (24), two limits, longitudinal side (22) that separate, one be configured in first section (6) near the described first end limit (24) and one and be configured near the described second end limit (24) second section (8), described first section and described second section is separated by at least one interlude (12)

Wherein said interlude (12) comprise one be positioned at described first section (6) and second section (8) but between the tensile expansion area of flexibility, but wherein said expansion area limits a zone that laterally extends to another limit, longitudinal side (22) from limit, a longitudinal side (22) and cross over described absorbent device, but wherein said expansion area is than the easier elongation of some part at least in described absorbent device (20) remainder.

5, absorbent device as claimed in claim 4 (20), wherein said absorbent device (20) limit a plane, and are tensile on vertical described absorbent device (20) plane in of described tensile expansion area.

6, absorbent device as claimed in claim 4 (20), this absorbent device also has one first petiolarea (28), second petiolarea (30) and the central area (32) between described first and second petiolareas, described absorbent device (20) also comprises one second interlude (14), wherein said interlude (12) is positioned between described first petiolarea (28) and the described central area (32), and described second interlude (14) is positioned between described central area (32) and described second petiolarea (30).

7, absorbent device as claimed in claim 6 (20), in wherein said first petiolarea (28) and second petiolarea (30) at least one has horizontal extending part, and this horizontal extending part is arranged in described longitudinal centre line (L) and comprise the zone of described longitudinal centre line on every side.

8, absorbent device as claimed in claim 4 (20), but wherein form a grid that has two obvious zoness of different at least on a described top flat (38) on described at least expansion area and at least one the part in the described egative film (40) so that described top flat (38) and egative film (40) but in described at least one described part in described expansion area regional, present elastic behavior along at least one predetermined axial line.

9, absorbent device as claimed in claim 4 (20), wherein said first section (6) can do transverse movement with respect to described longitudinal centre line (L) and with respect to described second section (8), so that the limit, longitudinal side (22) on described first section (6) one side laterally is displaced to outside the limit, longitudinal side (22) of described absorbent device (20) homonymy of described second section (8).

10, as each described absorbent device (20) among the claim 4-9, wherein said absorbent article core (42) has extensibility at least in described interlude, described extensibility is by being provided with a plurality of lines of rabbet joint or providing by sectional absorbent article core structure in a zone of described absorbent article core (42), in described sectional absorbent article core structure, each of absorbent article core section (42A, 42B is partly overlapping at least 42C).

Images